Consider the word RAIMENT. If you arrange all its letters in strict alphabetical order, for how many letters will the position in the original word and the position in the alphabetically arranged word remain exactly the same?

Introduction / Context:
This question checks understanding of alphabetical ordering of letters within a word. We are given the word RAIMENT and asked to determine how many letters occupy the same position in the original word and in the word formed by arranging its letters in alphabetical order. This type of problem appears in alphabet test sections and helps evaluate how carefully a candidate can track positions and sort characters.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Original word: RAIMENT.
• We consider only the letters R, A, I, M, E, N, T.
• We arrange these letters in ascending order of the English alphabet.
• We compare positions index by index between the original arrangement and the alphabetically sorted arrangement.
• We count only positions where the letter is exactly the same in both arrangements.

Concept / Approach:
The approach is straightforward: first, list the letters of RAIMENT in order, then sort them alphabetically. Next, align both sequences and compare each position. Any position at which the same letter appears in both sequences will be counted. Precision in ordering and careful comparison are crucial, as even a single misplacement leads to an incorrect answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Write the original word with positions marked: R(1), A(2), I(3), M(4), E(5), N(6), T(7).Step 2: Rearrange the letters in alphabetical order. The letters in RAIMENT are A, E, I, M, N, R, T. Thus, the sorted sequence is A(1), E(2), I(3), M(4), N(5), R(6), T(7).Step 3: Compare position by position: at position 1 we have R in the original and A in the sorted word, so this does not match.Step 4: At position 2 we have A in the original, but E in the sorted arrangement, so this also does not match.Step 5: At position 3 we have I in both the original and sorted forms, so this is a match.Step 6: At position 4 we have M in both versions, so this is also a match.Step 7: At position 5 we have E in the original and N in the sorted word, so no match here.Step 8: At position 6 we have N in the original and R in the sorted arrangement, which do not match.Step 9: At position 7 we have T in both sequences, so this is a match.

Verification / Alternative check:
We can summarise the matches: positions 3, 4, and 7 contain the same letters in both RAIMENT and the alphabetically sorted version A E I M N R T. Therefore, exactly three positions coincide. Double checking both sequences carefully confirms that there are no additional matches or errors in ordering.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Options stating None, One, or Two underestimate the number of matching positions and ignore either I, M, or T or misplace letters in the sorted sequence. Any value larger than three would incorrectly claim matches where the letters differ at the same index.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes misorder letters when arranging them alphabetically, especially when multiple vowels or consonants appear. Another common mistake is to count matching letters regardless of their positions, instead of focusing solely on position wise matches. Always write both sequences clearly and compare index by index instead of relying on mental shortcuts.

Final Answer:
The number of letters whose positions remain the same is Three.